Created and produced by John Lloyd (Blackadder, Not The Nine O’clock News) and researcher John Mitchinson, QI has been one of the greatest successes for the BBC in recent years, not only critically acclaimed in a world of dumbed down TV but also really popular.
Hosted by the great Stephen Fry, the show was first launched on BBC Two in September 2003. The move to the corporation’s flagship channel couldn’t come sooner as the last series peaked at 4.8million viewers and averaged three million, with the preview episodes on BBC 4 regularly achieving over 700,000 viewers every week.
Jay Hunt, controller of BBC One, said: "QI is a fantastic addition to BBC One. I am delighted that a show which has proved its popularity on BBC Two will now feature in our schedule allowing even more people to enjoy its unique blend of wit and obscure trivia."
A Show about Anything and Everything
QI works because it’s a show about anything and everything, as points are given out for an interesting answer rather than just a correct one. And any answers that obvious and wrong, such as ‘Henry 8th had six wives’ (revealed in series one as two) are met with a reduction of points and a look of mock disappointment on Fry’s face.
It's also a good place to pick up random factoids to re-tell to friends down the pub. There will be at least half a dozen moments per episode where you’ll think “wow, I didn’t know that” and how many other TV shows, even documentaries, can keep up that claim? That, and it’s very funny.
Emma Thompson and John Sergeant join the Line-up
Each series is based on the letter of the alphabet and the episodes follow a particular theme, such as ‘Danger’ or ‘Endings’. Whereas other panel shows have become gimmicky or rely on nastiness, QI makes an effort to get the panel involved with the focus on information and witty banter.
While it aims to include as many current comedians as possible regulars include Jo Brand, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Jimmy Carr, Clive Anderson, David Mitchell and the ever present Alan Davies.
The latest series is set to feature new faces like Emma Thompson, who actually started her career with Stephen as part of the Cambridge Footlights, Ben Miller, Marcus Brigstocke and Celebrity Come Dancing’s John Sergeant joining in the wittertainment. There’s even talk of the seventh series (G) running for 16 episodes rather than 12. Who said there’s no good news these days?
Children in Need special gets ball rolling
QI is one of those TV programmes that makes you feel more intelligent than you actually are, even those of us who can’t work out how to set the clock on a DVD player (formally video player, but anyone who still thinks those are hi-tech should be rounded up and laughed at).
Even the Children in Need Special that aired last month didn’t miss a beat, even with Terry Wogan on the panel (who actually was a very good addition). It was just as splendidly enjoyable as ever and a correct decision to set apart from the main series as the CiN specials. Although it is a big part of one of the nation’s biggest fundraisers, it does tend to break up the pace by being shoehorned in the middle of the run.
The first BBC One broadcast will be the QI Christmas special in December, with the new series of ten remaining episodes transmitting from early January 2009. But until then here’s a brilliant clip of one of the outtakes from last year’s ‘E’ series.
